Back to School for Parents Too

That whooshing noise you just heard was the sound of summer that just whizzed by. School seems to start earlier and earlier every year. For some, summer is already over. Can you believe it's gone by so fast? When we were kids, it seemed as if it would never end.

As you re-adapt yourself and your children to the school day routine, we wanted to remind you of a few bits of good parenting advice.

Parenting Isn't Easy

Would you take a job that required you to work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, always on call, with no pay? That's the job of a parent. It means putting your children's needs ahead of your own and often putting your plans and desires on hold. It means sometimes being the "bad guy" and consistently enforcing rules even if it's inconvenient, unpopular, and even embarrassing.

Just when you think you have it figured out it with the first child, the second child comes along and is completely different. Your bulletproof tricks and skills have become obsolete, and you have to figure it all out again. Bryant Wright offers some advice on becoming students of your children:

The Bible provides timeless insight. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." The way he should go means according to his bent. This means we have to be students of our children--learning to recognize their God-given abilities and interests. We're also to help our children develop their strengths, as well as curb and check their weaknesses.

Once we become students of our children and teach them right from wrong with a lot of prayer, the promise of God can be realized. The challenge is a great one, but the rewards of seeing our children become mature, productive adults makes all the hard work worthwhile.

- From the devotion The Most Difficult Job

Where Should we Begin?

With all the distractions of parenting, it's easy to set aside our relationship with our spouse in order to take care of all the pressing needs of parenting. We tell ourselves that it's for the sake of the children, but is that what our kids really need?

One of their biggest needs is a healthy example of marriage:

The most important starting point is for Mom and Dad to love and respect each other. Why? Because so much of the identity of our children is wrapped up in Mom and Dad. So much of their security is knowing that Mom and Dad really love each other. This means that even if you're divorced, don't make the mistake of tearing down your child by tearing down your ex. Build up your child by portraying your ex in the best possible light, even when it's difficult.

Parenting is tough, but the most important way to be a good parent is to love your spouse. God commands it, and our children need it.

- From the devotion Starting Point For Being A Good Parent

Letting Them Go

Whether you are dropping your kids off at preschool or sending them off to college this fall, the emotions can be overwhelming and diverse. You're just as likely to feel pride and joy as you are sadness, fear, and guilt. Be prepared for this strange mix of feelings.

Remember that your job as a parent is to prepare them for these moments. God's plan was never for them to stay under your wing forever. Letting go is part of life. Bryant offers a few suggestions to help get ready for these transitions:

1. Do whatever you can to allow Mom to be at home full-time with the children in the preschool years. I realize single parents don't have this option, but if you can work it out--do it. This short-term sacrifice brings long-term results.
2. Love them always and let them know of your love for them.
3. Discipline them consistently, so that they'll know there are consequences for stepping over the line.
4. Pray for them regularly, that they'll make wise choices and that their influences are for good.

- From the devotion Letting Go As A Parent

What if they Go the Wrong Way?

As parents, you love your kids unconditionally and want them to succeed in every possible way. So, what if they take a different path? What if you train them up in the way they should go, but when they're old, they do depart from it?

God never called you to raise Godly children. He's called you to be a Godly parent. Parents generally are too quick to take the credit when their kids turn out right and too quick to take the blame when they don't. Your children have to make choices for themselves.

Don't quit praying for them and loving them. God understands your heart. His heart breaks when his children don't come home.